Janie Grace Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 What do you think? I think he doesn't seem humble. I think he decided to "confess" because it was the only logical next move, but that he seems like a kid who got caught and forced to apologize. It's frustrating; there would be so much more personal restoration (I mean, just being at peace with one's self) if he would TRULY come to a place of regret and sadness over his very real failures... What are your impressions? Quote
Guest inoubliable Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Nope. Not interested in watching. He lied, we all know it (some of us knew before he admitted it), what could he possibly say at this point that makes any difference? I don't even know why anyone cares anymore. Why give him even more attention? Quote
Janie Grace Posted January 18, 2013 Author Posted January 18, 2013 Nope. Not interested in watching. He lied, we all know it (some of us knew before he admitted it), what could he possibly say at this point that makes any difference? I don't even know why anyone cares anymore. Why give him even more attention? I'm fascinated by human nature, I guess. Quote
Jan in SC Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I saw in FB that SWB will be on the BBC news after the interview to discuss it. (I wish we still had cable!) Quote
Janie Grace Posted January 18, 2013 Author Posted January 18, 2013 I saw in FB that SWB will be on the BBC news after the interview to discuss it. (I wish we still had cable!) Wow. I bet you can watch it online. (That's how I'm watching the interview; I don't have cable either.) Quote
Danestress Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I thought he did a decent job. Years too late, of course. He didn't seem to want to spend time rationalizing and justifying, which is what I expected. I didn't watch the whole thing because I was flipping between that and the Australian Open, but when I was watching, he seemed direct, contrite, unemotional, and more honest than I expected. The thing that surprised me was that he was able to admit to the bigger picture short comings - that he was a jerk, a bully, and someone who felt he should be able to control every situation. He admitted to being willing to destroy the reputations of his former friends. He acknowledged that there are people who will never forgive him because he simply did too much damage. I thought it was better than I expected. But yes, of course he comes across as arrogant, because he is arrogant. He's not going to get a total personality transplant. Quote
pdalley Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I didn't watch it but I saw a blurb about it on Twitter. I think I may have been awake too long because instead of reading it as 'Lance Armstrong confesses doping to Oprah' I read it as 'Lance Armstrong confesses to doping Oprah.' I hope he's more contrite than Pete Rose cause that's who this reminds me of. He denied it and denied it. Finally confessed and then seemed pissed that he wasn't forgiven and put in the Hall of Fame. Quote
Shamzanne Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 If he is truly sorry he will pay back all the money he won from his lawsuits and give to charity the money he was given as a result of his "success". Even if it brings him to poverty. Quote
Audrey Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I am not interested in giving either of them any valuable minutes of my day. Quote
PachiSusan Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I am not interested in giving either of them any valuable minutes of my day. This. Quote
Tammyla Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 No, I wouldn't want to waste my time watching their commercial... That said, listening to the radio this morning...They were discussing his needing to get this over with so...he can begin competing in triathlons...gag! :ohmy: He should be banned from all sports imo. Who would want to compete against him! He dopes, cheats, lies, threatens and sues anyone who dares to question him. Quote
Kathryn Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Nope, didn't watch. I heard he confessed. I don't need to see it. Especially by watching Oprah. Quote
msjones Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I'm no Oprah fan, but I was a Lance Armstrong fan, so I've been paying attention. I read about the interview but didn't watch it. I truly pity him because he probably has no genuine friendships. I wonder about personality disorder... (is that the right term?) He seems miserable, lonely, desperate... Quote
Lady Florida. Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Nope. Not interested in watching. He lied, we all know it (some of us knew before he admitted it), what could he possibly say at this point that makes any difference? I don't even know why anyone cares anymore. Why give him even more attention? I am not interested in giving either of them any valuable minutes of my day. No, I wouldn't want to waste my time watching their commercial... Didn't watch it. All of the above. Quote
QueenCat Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Nope. Not interested in watching. He lied, we all know it (some of us knew before he admitted it), what could he possibly say at this point that makes any difference? I don't even know why anyone cares anymore. Why give him even more attention? Ds asked me what I thought.... My response was "Talking about Lance Armstrong is a waste of my breath". Quote
Susan in TN Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Nope. Not interested in watching. He lied, we all know it (some of us knew before he admitted it), what could he possibly say at this point that makes any difference? I don't even know why anyone cares anymore. Why give him even more attention? Yep. Although my first thought was, "Oprah is still on TV?" :D Quote
Danestress Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Yep. Although my first thought was, "Oprah is still on TV?" :D I must be a major loser with too much time on my hands, because I find Lance Armstrong utterly fascinating. If the Australian Open hadn't been on, I would have been watching every second of the interview. In my own defense, I don't care about celebrities, I have no idea who most professional athletes are (unless they play tennis), I had never heard of that Manti guy until this week, and I could care less whether Kate and William have a boy or girl. Yawn. I don't consider myself someone who is really wrapped up in the "soft news story of the week" the media tries to feed us. And honestly, I thought Oprah retired and was enjoying herself these days. Apparently she has been busy doing things no one cares about, lol. But I just thought it was interesting to see how much Armstrong would say, whether he would rationalize or come truly clean, and what he would say about the friends he has betrayed and tried to destroy. I'm pretty sure he's a sociopath, and it was interesting to see how he would handle an interview that could only be relevant if he actually admitted some things he had denied for years. Maybe it's the whole "the higher the climb, the harder the fall" thing. Except I wasn't particularly interested when it was Tiger Woods. I don't know. I find it interesting, but I can't explain why! Quote
Guest inoubliable Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I must be a major loser with too much time on my hands, because I find Lance Armstrong utterly fascinating. I don't know. I find it interesting, but I can't explain why! Cheer up, buttercup! No one thinks you're a loser. Go check out the "I have some confessions to make" thread and you'll see how it's all good. :) Quote
WishboneDawn Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I thought he did a decent job. Years too late, of course. He didn't seem to want to spend time rationalizing and justifying, which is what I expected. I didn't watch the whole thing because I was flipping between that and the Australian Open, but when I was watching, he seemed direct, contrite, unemotional, and more honest than I expected. The thing that surprised me was that he was able to admit to the bigger picture short comings - that he was a jerk, a bully, and someone who felt he should be able to control every situation. He admitted to being willing to destroy the reputations of his former friends. He acknowledged that there are people who will never forgive him because he simply did too much damage. I thought it was better than I expected. But yes, of course he comes across as arrogant, because he is arrogant. He's not going to get a total personality transplant. If he seemed to be those things (in bold) then I'm absolutely sure it's because that's the only strategy he could see that would get him what he wanted and I'm quite sure that even now, when he thinks on what he's done wrong it's not with any regret or true understanding of how wrong it was but only with the intention of figuring out how to make his way out of the mess he's put himself in and get back into sport. I also see his statement on not expecting forgiveness not as any kind of understanding of the hurt he caused others but as a way to excuse himself from having to do any work to actually earn forgiveness. There is nothing decent about Lance Armstrong. Quote
Janie Grace Posted January 18, 2013 Author Posted January 18, 2013 I must be a major loser with too much time on my hands, because I find Lance Armstrong utterly fascinating. If the Australian Open hadn't been on, I would have been watching every second of the interview. In my own defense, I don't care about celebrities, I have no idea who most professional athletes are (unless they play tennis), I had never heard of that Manti guy until this week, and I could care less whether Kate and William have a boy or girl. Yawn. I don't consider myself someone who is really wrapped up in the "soft news story of the week" the media tries to feed us. And honestly, I thought Oprah retired and was enjoying herself these days. Apparently she has been busy doing things no one cares about, lol. But I just thought it was interesting to see how much Armstrong would say, whether he would rationalize or come truly clean, and what he would say about the friends he has betrayed and tried to destroy. I'm pretty sure he's a sociopath, and it was interesting to see how he would handle an interview that could only be relevant if he actually admitted some things he had denied for years. Maybe it's the whole "the higher the climb, the harder the fall" thing. Except I wasn't particularly interested when it was Tiger Woods. I don't know. I find it interesting, but I can't explain why! I'm right with you, Danestress (that's why I started this thread!). I'm actually surprised at how many "what a waste of my time" comments there are, given the usual curiosity-about-humanity I've observed here. I happened to have a free night and I found the interview fascinating. The amount of money/fame Armstrong has procured, the power he has had, the damage he has done in order to cover these lies, the complete "myth" (his word) that he created around his life... it's a pretty huge deal. My interest is the same as yours... I wanted to see if I could observe/understand where he's at now, to see if there seems to have been gut-level change, to try to unravel the mystery of what kind of person he is at this point. I thought he seemed not just cocky but psychotic. It was actually quite chilling -- the defiance and sense of being right that he could still have, even as he is completely trapped. I don't think he feels bad, deep down. I got the feeling that he had been fed some lines to make it sound like he has spent time in soul-searching (things about how beating cancer made him a bully, how "scary" he now finds it that he didn't think he had done anything wrong, etc.) -- but that this is just an unpleasant but calculated next step for him. I've always been fascinated by how people feel/think, especially those outside the norm in some way. I don't think it's morally wrong for us to care, Danestress (though I do get that feeling around here, so thanks for chiming in!). Quote
Janie Grace Posted January 18, 2013 Author Posted January 18, 2013 If he seemed to be those things (in bold) then I'm absolutely sure it's because that's the only strategy he could see that would get him what he wanted and I'm quite sure that even now, when he thinks on what he's done wrong it's not with any regret or true understanding of how wrong it was but only with the intention of figuring out how to make his way out of the mess he's put himself in and get back into sport. I also see his statement on not expecting forgiveness not as any kind of understanding of the hurt he caused others but as a way to excuse himself from having to do any work to actually earn forgiveness. :iagree: Exactly. Quote
Lady Florida. Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I'm right with you, Danestress (that's why I started this thread!). I'm actually surprised at how many "what a waste of my time" comments there are, given the usual curiosity-about-humanity I've observed here. I happened to have a free night and I found the interview fascinating. The amount of money/fame Armstrong has procured, the power he has had, the damage he has done in order to cover these lies, the complete "myth" (his word) that he created around his life... it's a pretty huge deal. I don't think it's morally wrong for us to care, Danestress (though I do get that feeling around here, so thanks for chiming in!). I don't think it's wrong for you to care either. Plenty of people find the situation interesting. I think my lack of interest has more to do with being disillusioned with sports, even the Olympics. I used to be a huge sports fan, and though I wasn't into bicycle racing I at least knew the big names. I watched more sports on tv than my dh, especially college and pro football. I would say the past 10 years or so I got tired of the big business of it all. That's my reason for not caring to hear a sports figure admit to doping. Quote
SunnyDays Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 DH recorded the interview, he used to love watching LA on the Tour de France, so he just wants to see what he says. I may watch a bit of it. It's not that I don't care, just that there's really nothing he can say at this point that will move me one way or another, KWIM?? I'm kind of with Kathy in that I'm over a lot of sports, especially professional... it gets old seeing someone touted as practically walking on water, then watching society be shocked as they fall from grace. I watched selected programs of the Olympics... we watch a fair amount of college football and basketball. Otherwise, I can mostly do without. DH, on the other hand, watches a number of sports. Quote
I.Dup. Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I recorded the interview(s) and will watch them when I have a chance. Same reason- I'm interested in human nature. Quote
SKL Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Honestly, I don't understand why we even care if an adult chooses to take a legal drug, knowing its side effects. It's a poor decision, but so are smoking and excessive drinking, and when was the last time you saw an inquest about those? Not that I care one whit about Armstrong or any other particular athlete. I find it sad how much time, emotional energy, and money goes into these issues. It's not as if high-level sports are really accessible to everyone anyway. And sports is given too much importance in our culture as it is. I say let it go. Quote
Word Nerd Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I read an article and saw a few clips. I find his sociopathic tendencies and the bullying and intimidation of those who told the truth much more disturbing than the doping. Quote
FeFe Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Dh and i had plans last night so we didn't watch but I did read articles about it this morning. But I wish that I had recorded it. I'm not a fan of sports unless my child is on the team but I have to say that this week the sports section is the first section I head to. I find it interesting from a human nature perspective (Armstrong and T'eo). I'll watch the 2nd part of the interview tonight. Quote
Izzy Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I didn't watch it but didn't want to. Oprah annoys me and I didn't really care what Lance Armstrong had to say. People in Austin have know for a long time that he's an arrogant jerk who was guilty of doping. Quote
Trish Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Dh and i had plans last night so we didn't watch but I did read articles about it this morning. But I wish that I had recorded it. I'm not a fan of sports unless my child is on the team but I have to say that this week the sports section is the first section I head to. I find it interesting from a human nature perspective (Armstrong and T'eo). I'll watch the 2nd part of the interview tonight. I don't see what Armstrong has to gain by this confession (wonder if it will put him in legal jeopardy vis a vis the people he has sued for defaming him). I don't see it refurbishing his reputation in any way. But the good news is he has saved us from the die-hards who refused to believe he doped even after the 1000-page IOC report! I truly think there were people who would've gone to the grave claiming "he didn't do it" no matter what the evidence was. Quote
WishboneDawn Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I don't see what Armstrong has to gain by this confession (wonder if it will put him in legal jeopardy vis a vis the people he has sued for defaming him). I don't see it refurbishing his reputation in any way. But the good news is he has saved us from the die-hards who refused to believe he doped even after the 1000-page IOC report! I truly think there were people who would've gone to the grave claiming "he didn't do it" no matter what the evidence was. His gain is that there may be the slight possibility that his ban from competing might be lessened so that he can again compete in triathlon events. Without an admission, there's no chance at all. Narrow self-interest is all it's about. I haven't watched the interview but have read quotes. I'd love to watch it to see what he says in third person, how he phrases responses, his facial expressions ( that "scary", "scarier", "scariest" crap looked insincere and detached on paper - wonder what he looked like as he said it). He's a good study. Quote
WishboneDawn Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Here's a really interesting blog post by a woman who's a "truth wizard", meaning she can spot truth and deception in people with great accuracy. It's pretty interesting, here's a quote, While I would never rely on a still shot to tell me the whole story, Lance has no problem cracking a smile through his entire interview, and worse, he didn't show an ounce of sadness or regret the entire time. Instead he flashes contempt several times over. Quote
dangermom Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 WD, have you got a link for that? Looks interesting. Quote
Marylou Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I had it playing online while I did other things. I think anytime someone stops lying and starts telling the truth it is a good thing. I don't really care why he confessed; only he and God know the reason. I also hope he reimburses those he scammed. Quote
Catwoman Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I didn't watch it but I saw a blurb about it on Twitter. I think I may have been awake too long because instead of reading it as 'Lance Armstrong confesses doping to Oprah' I read it as 'Lance Armstrong confesses to doping Oprah.' Now that I would have watched!!! :D Quote
Word Nerd Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I thought it was interesting that he also used a passive construction in several of his comments and referred to his actions in the third person ("such and such happened" rather than "I did such and such"). Quote
SKL Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I still can't figure out why they let Mike Tyson compete after he bit off a piece of someone's ear. So obviously the way they decide who can and can't compete is beyond me. Quote
unsinkable Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 WD, have you got a link for that? Looks interesting. I'm guessing it is eyes for lies: http://blog.eyesforlies.com/2013/01/lie-expert-opinion-on-lance-armstrong.html?m=1 Quote
unsinkable Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Statement analysis is another interesting website/blog: http://www.statement-analysis.blogspot.com/2013/01/lance-armstrong-deception-continues.html?m=1 Quote
WishboneDawn Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 WD, have you got a link for that? Looks interesting. Whoops! The link is now in the post. Sorry! Quote
Audrey Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I don't think it's wrong for you to care either. Plenty of people find the situation interesting. I think my lack of interest has more to do with being disillusioned with sports, even the Olympics. I used to be a huge sports fan, and though I wasn't into bicycle racing I at least knew the big names. I watched more sports on tv than my dh, especially college and pro football. I would say the past 10 years or so I got tired of the big business of it all. That's my reason for not caring to hear a sports figure admit to doping. I feel the same way to the bolded. In the aftermath of yet another hockey lock-out / money grab and all of the completely disingenuous pandering that comes out of it, I am at a point of zero-interest. My disillusionment began back with the baseballs scandals of Pete Rose and Mark McGuire. To sully the game like that -- it just killed my love of the game. Professional sports just keeps getting more and more about money and less and less about the game. It's hard to give a crap anymore. Quote
Scarlett Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Yep. Although my first thought was, "Oprah is still on TV?" :D Yeah, she has her own network and everything! Quote
Scarlett Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I thought it was interesting that he also used a passive construction in several of his comments and referred to his actions in the third person ("such and such happened" rather than "I did such and such"). This! It so reminds me of my XH when he got caught cheating...he kept mentioning, 'this thing that happened.' I said, 'Tornados happen! YOU CHEATED!' Quote
Danestress Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I've always been fascinated by how people feel/think, especially those outside the norm in some way. I don't think it's morally wrong for us to care, Danestress (though I do get that feeling around here, so thanks for chiming in!). I think the reason I find it interesting is that I am not a risk taker, and I have always been interested in people who will take huge risks, especially when they are risking losing the respect of everyone they know. If I were on a game show, I would be so boring. I would win that first 10k and say, "Thanks Alex, but this is good enough for me. I think I will take it and go home." I would never keep wagering on winning the next round. I love Anna Karenina and other novels too (but especially Anna), in which people are faced with what they are willing to risk in order to have what they want. She wants passion, and it costs her everything dear to her. Of course, she is fiction. And when it got bad (spoiler alert!) she threw herself in front of a train. You won't see Lance Armstrong throwing himself in front of a train. He will go down fighting. And watching him fight has been like watching a train wreck. He's still fighting, but now he's not fighting to win a race or to cover up cheating. He's fighting to try to win back some of what he lost taking those risks. It's just compelling to me and I think it's because if the vision of someone dealing with temptation, ambition, regret. I try to imagine what it would be like to lose the respect of your ten year old son, and even though it's horrible, it's just really interesting to me. And no, I don't feel at all bad admitting it, lol. Quote
justamouse Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Here's a really interesting blog post by a woman who's a "truth wizard", meaning she can spot truth and deception in people with great accuracy. It's pretty interesting, here's a quote, [/color] If you like her blog, watch the show Lie to Me and check out Dr Paul Eckman's books, which the show was based on. It's all about micro expressions and reading them. It's actually what piqued Dd18's interest in psychology. My thoughts? He's made himself into a pathological liar. His conscience is so seared...I don't know if you can come back from that, but I hope, for his sake, that he can. Quote
justamouse Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 He's still fighting, but now he's not fighting to win a race or to cover up cheating. He's fighting to try to win back some of what he lost taking those risks. :iagree: Exactly. This is just a manipulation to get what he wants--back in. Quote
Scarlett Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 I'm fascinated by human nature, I guess. I am too. I can't look away. LOL Quote
unsinkable Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 This! It so reminds me of my XH when he got caught cheating...he kept mentioning, 'this thing that happened.' I said, 'Tornados happen! YOU CHEATED!' This is one of those posts that I like then think...oh, shoot! I don't like that he cheated, I like Scarlett's comment! Quote
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